Features
[South Africa] New laws to protect bank accounts underway
South Africa's National Treasury has published draft regulations for public comment for its new system designed to protect bank depositors in the event of a bank collapse.
[Column] Paul Selibas: Embedded finance in the age of e-commerce
Consumers value the convenience, time savings, and discounts online shopping can provide, while businesses gain advantages such as overhead savings, data insights, and a wider customer base.
[Column] Wayne Glossop: Gas power solutions for South Africa
While to date our society has been heavily reliant on coal, it's not able to keep pace with the energy and environmental aspirations of the nation currently.
[Somalia] Mastercard and SomBank launch debit card in Somalia
The purpose of the partnership is to promote the adoption of digital payment solutions in the country, bringing more Somalis into the digital fold.
[Kenya] Absa Bank introduces BNLP feature for cardholders
Absa Bank Kenya customers with a card will now be able to pay for goods in bits after the lender introduces a new feature dubbed ‘Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)’.
[South Africa] Standard Bank, HUAWEI collaborate to empower digital banking solutions
Standard Bank, a leading financial institution in South Africa, has embarked on a strategic collaboration with HUAWEI Mobile Services to provide cutting-edge digital banking solutions to its clients in South Africa.
IFC appoints Mary Porter Peschka as Regional Director for Eastern Africa
Peschka, who brings more than 30 years of global investment and development expertise to her new role, will drive IFC's strategy across the region to support resilient, inclusive, and sustainable private sector growth and job creation.
[Column] Nikita Appelman: Why businesses need to consider fixed microwave connectivity
Microwave services tend to fare much better during loadshedding as they have much better power management on the high sites as compared to cellular base stations.
[Column] Pankaj Bedi: Transform Kenyan human capital for sustainable growth
For any business, one of the most critical components of enhancing productivity and giving the company a competitive edge is a skilled and highly efficient workforce. The most industrialized nations attribute their development to a highly skilled workforce, among other factors.
AfDB to make $11 million equity investment in BluePeak Private Capital Fund
The investment advances the Bank’s goal of supporting mid-size firms, including in the pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, manufacturing, and logistics sectors, across Africa.
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NMB Bank Tanzania partners with UnionPay to reach at 30,000 merchants with mobile commerce
This partnership comes at a time when the world is easing towards digital payment since Covid-19, resulting in an increase in the digital user base and shifted consumer purchasing behaviour.
IFC annonce de nouveaux projets pour soutenir les MPME
IFC a annoncé quatre nouveaux projets visant à accompagner les micro, petites et moyennes entreprises (MPME) en Afrique et dans le monde.
Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund completes a USD 9 million investment in LOLC Africa
The investment will support LOLC’s expansion strategy into Africa, through the financing of MSMEs, thereby promoting a high social and developmental impact including financial inclusion, employment creation, income generation, and economic growth.
Gabon et Africa50 signent un accord pour le développement de lignes de transport d’électricité
La République Gabonaise et Africa50 signent un accord cadre pour le développement et le financement de lignes de transport d’électricité.
Africa50 and Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital team up to fund sustainable infrastructure in Africa
Africa50 and Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital, partner to deploy structured finance instruments to fund sustainable infrastructure in Africa
UMDF and ICEX Spain Trade and Investment team up to boost sustainable urban development in Africa
ICEX Spain Trade and Investment and the African Development Bank have signed a cooperation agreement to consolidate engagement of Spain’s private sector for urban development in Africa.
Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund completes a USD 7 million dual-tranche investment in Mogo Kenya
The investment will help provide thousands of self-employed entrepreneurs operating as motorbike and tuk-tuk taxi riders or courier or delivery drivers in Kenya with greater economic empowerment and asset ownership opportunities.
[Column] Rami Osman: 5G as a catalyst for economic opportunities and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Over the past two decades, mobile telecommunications has transformed the face of Sub-Saharan Africa, integrating hundreds of millions of people into the digital economy and creating a new industry worth billions of dollars a year.
[Column] NJ Ayuk: Natural gas represents tremendous opportunities for Africa — we must seize them now
For Africa to move forward and grow its natural gas output, a two-pronged approach is required: Gas producers must continue to pump from existing fields while countries with new discoveries must get these undeveloped projects to the final investment decision (FID) stage as quickly as possible.